Wide bandgap matrix switcher, amplifier and oscillator

An electronic device, comprising:

• an electrical power supply;
• a first electrode coupled to the electrical power supply;
• a second electrode separated from the first electrode;
• a wide bandgap photoconductive material located between and in contact with the first and second electrodes and responsive to input radiation to change an electrical conductivity of an electrical path between the first and second electrodes through the wide bandgap photoconductive material;
• a radiation source that produces the input radiation received by the wide bandgap photoconductive material;
• and
• an electrical to optical conversion device that receives a sample of an electrical output signal from the first or second electrode and converts the received sample of the electrical output signal into an optical signal that is applied with the input radiation into the wide bandgap photoconductive material to form a closed signal loop to sustain a self-oscillation in the electronic device.

An electronic device, comprising:

• an electrical input;
• an electrical output;
• and
• a wide bandgap material positioned between the electrical input and the electrical output and electrically coupled to the electrical input at a second terminal and electrically coupled to the electrical output at a second terminal, the wide bandgap material to control an amount of an electrical current flowing between the electrical input and the electrical output in response to a stimulus received by the wide bandgap material.

An electronic device, comprising:

• an electrical power supply;
• an electrical circuit element electrically coupled to the electrical power supply;
• a wide bandgap material electrically coupled between the electrical circuit element and electrical ground;
• an electrical output electrically coupled to the electrical circuit element and the wide bandgap material,
• wherein the wide bandgap material is responsive to input radiation received by the wide bandgap material to change an amount of an electrical current flowing between the power supply and the electrical output to amplify an electrical signal presented at the electrical output.

A waveform generator device, comprising:

• a first electrical power supply;
• a second electrical power supply having a polarity more negative than that of the first electrical power supply;
• an electrical output electrically coupled including a first electrical connection to the first electrical power supply and a second electrical connection to the second electrical power supply;
• and
• a wide bandgap material electrically coupled between the first and the second electrical power supplies and coupled to the first and the second electrical connections of the electrical output,
• wherein the wide bandgap material is responsive to input radiation to control an amount of an electrical current flowing between the first and the second electrical power supplies and the electrical output to affect an output waveform generated at the electrical output.

A communication transmitter for transmitting communication signals at different carrier frequencies, comprising:

• electrical communication signal generators that produce electrical communication signals centered at different carrier frequencies;
• a radiation modulated switch device that includes, an electrical power supply;
• a first electrode coupled to the electrical power supply;
• a second electrode separated from the first electrode;
• a wide bandgap photoconductive material located between and in contact with the first and second electrodes and responsive to input radiation to change an electrical conductivity of an electrical path between the first and second electrodes through the wide bandgap photoconductive material;
• and
• a radiation source that produces the input radiation received by the wide bandgap photoconductive material that is modulated by one or more electrical communication signals centered at different carrier frequencies to cause an output electrical communication signal to be generated at the first or second electrode that carries the one or more electrical communication signals centered at different carrier frequencies.

A communication transmitter for transmitting communication signals at different carrier frequencies, comprising:

• optical communication signal generators that produce optical communication signals centered at different optical carrier frequencies;
• and
• a radiation modulated switch device that includes, an electrical power supply;
• a first electrode coupled to the electrical power supply;
• a second electrode separated from the first electrode;
• a wide bandgap photoconductive material located between and in contact with the first and second electrodes and responsive to input radiation to change an electrical conductivity of an electrical path between the first and second electrodes through the wide bandgap photoconductive material;
• wherein the radiation modulated switch device is coupled to receive one or more of the optical communication signals centered at different optical carrier frequencies to cause an output electrical communication signal to be generated at the first or second electrode that carries the one or more of the optical communication signals.